Gemalto selected for Belgian ePassport

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Amsterdam, Oct 1, 2013 - Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, has announced that it will supply Belgium with its Sealys ePassport, due to be introduced in May 2014. Gemalto will provide the Belgian Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs with more than 400,000 ePassports every year and Zetes will serve as the system integrator in this long term agreement.

ePassports, also known as electronic and biometric passports, can be read via authorized contactless readers and incorporate a microprocessor. Powered by Gemalto’s highly secure embedded software, the ePassports store unique personal characteristics such as a fingerprint, providing robust and reliable authentication of the holder’s identity. Under a five-year contract, Gemalto will supply the Belgian ePassport program with its Sealys range of highly secure and durable ePassport booklets, and its latest ICAO secure embedded software. Zetes is responsible for the personalization and delivery of the ePassports. The combined expertise of Gemalto and Zetes was proven in a series of rigorous audits conducted by the Belgian Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs at both Gemalto and Zetes sites.

"Gemalto and Zetes have the know-how necessary to ensure that the customer benefits from our successful experience of rolling out the Belgian eID cards, and this is why the national authorities have the continued confidence in our expert team," said Alain Wirtz, CEO of Zetes Group. "With 80 references in government programs worldwide, Gemalto was clearly positioned as a strong partner to meet the very high expectations of the Belgian ePassport project."

"The Belgian ePassport is certainly one of the most advanced ever created," said Frédéric Trojani, Senior Vice-President of Government Programs at Gemalto. "Our successful experience acquired through a large number of national passport programs worldwide has clearly enabled this accomplishment, for the benefit of Belgian citizens and Public Service alike."

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2012 annual revenues of €2.2 billion and more than 10,000 employees operating out of 83 offices and 13 Research & Development centers, located in 43 countries.

We are at the heart of the rapidly evolving digital society. Billions of people worldwide increasingly want the freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain and work – anytime, everywhere – in ways that are enjoyable and safe. Gemalto delivers on their expanding needs for personal mobile services, payment security, authenticated cloud access, identity and privacy protection, eHealthcare and eGovernment efficiency, convenient ticketing and dependable machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. We develop secure embedded software and secure products which we design and personalize. Our platforms and services manage these products, the confidential data they contain and the trusted end-user services made possible.

Our innovations enable our clients to offer trusted and convenient digital services to billions of individuals. Gemalto thrives with the growing number of people using its solutions to interact with the digital and wireless world.